Professor Arryn's Story (Part 4)

Here are four more letters and diary excerpts from Professor Arryn Jones, my D&D character.

To read the previous parts of the story, click the links:
Part 1  Part 2  Part 3

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

1 Mirtul, 1493 DR  (1 May)

Dad,

I did it!  I got the book!  I had to set up poor Ramas in an awkward situation and I feel really bad about that.  He was able to get himself out of it, so it ended well.  Unfortunately, I also stood him up for our dinner date, and I’ll have to find some way to apologize to him for that.  I don’t like deceiving him and not sure that I want to do it anymore.

I can’t read my book just yet.  I think there’s some sort of spell on it that I have to get removed. I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep tonight from all the excitement, so I’ll go back and grade some more research papers.

Love,
Arryn

Professor Arryn's Story (Part 3)

Here are four more letters and diary excerpts from Professor Arryn Jones, my D&D character.

To read the previous parts of the story, click the links:
Part 1  Part 2

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

28 Alturiak, 1493 DR. (28 February)

Dear Mother,

I hope this letter finds you in good health.  My apologizes for not writing for a few tendays now; I’ve been working on a big project and it has taken all of my attention.  Well, most of it anyway.  The rest has been trying to decide what to do about Professor Nathandem.  He’s now insisting that I call him “Ramas,” and acting rather familiar.  Tell me, Mother: How do you know when someone is in love?  What should I do?  I desperately need to focus on my project, but he is so… alluring.  Debating with him is very enjoyable, and I have to admit that I like the way he looks at me.  What did you think of him when you met at Highharvestide?

Arg. I ramble on.  I really need to focus on my project!  I’m concerned that if I don’t keep my focus then I wont be able to succeed in this advancement.  What do I do, Mother?  Ramas has asked me to dinner several times and I’ve kept coming up with excuses to avoid him.  Very soon I’ll have to say yes to appease his pursuit, and I admit a part of me is pleased at the thought.

Professor Arryn's Story (Part 2)

Here are four more letters and diary excerpts from Professor Arryn Jones, my D&D character.

To read Part 1 click here.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

3 Alturiak, 1493 DR  (3 February)

Dad,

Today, after a particularly captivating lecture about Karsus's Folly, Professor Nathandem invited me to tea to talk more on the subject.  Our discussion continued for quite some time until we were interrupted by our class schedules.  He invited me to join him in the Rare Books library soon, which only the senior professors have access to.  He wants to show me the texts which support his argument disagreeing with Mystra's limit on magic. 

Professor Arryn's Story (Part 1)

I told you before that I've started playing Dungeons and Dragons again.  I like to fully create my character, with personality, quirks, and back story.   I've spent a lot of time developing her story, and researching some of the world of Forgotten Realms (one of the worlds used in Dungeons & Dragons), and some other things.  I've made my character related to another famous character, which I'm sure you'll pick up on before long. lol

The short version:

Professor Arryn is a half-elf Rogue/Warlock.  She is a book nerd, loves mysteries, and highly values knowledge; she will do whatever it takes to collect it.

Here are letters and diary excerpts I've written to explain her back story.  I've written more, but I'll give you a few "entries" at a time.  Please note that the world of the Forgotten Realms has their own calendar, holidays, and culture, which I will reference.  I'll give the equivalent of our dates to have the progression make more sense to you.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

5 Elesias, 1492 DR (5 August)

Dear Mother,

I hope you had a wonderful Midsummer!  My celebrations were pleasant enough.  I am happy to tell you that I start my new teaching position this autumn.  I’ll be the Professor of History at the College of Fochlucan!  Silverymoon!  I get to move from this tiny no-name town and back to the city of my birth.  Perhaps you’ll come visit me? 

Strawberry Yogurt Soup

Hello!  I've been busy with house stuff and retaining my sanity.  Much of my time has been spent trying to resolve our current health insurance mess.  We were approved to have OHP, but they still had it on record that we had private insurance, which we lost when my husband got laid off, so I've been having to untangle it.  I wont go into more detail as it is confusing and borning.  I think I'm finally near the end of it!  I'm still fixing doctor appointments though.  My doctor that I just got doesn't take my new insurance so I'm having to switch again, as well as other family appointments.

Good news!  My husband started a new job last week!  It's through a temp agency, but both the agency and the workplace have made my husband feel appreciated and productive.  He's also on day shift!  Hallaluja!  He gets up at 5 a.m. now, instead of 10 a.m.  I'm adjusting my schedule a little bit (I used to get up at 6:30) so I'll be getting up with him.  It's *so nice* to be able to cuddle with him instead of sleeping alone.

I've been doing art on the computer these last few weeks.  I've had several graphic design orders - a few repeat customers came back.  I love hand dyers!  They make such lovely yarn and they like to dress them up with pre-printed labels, which I am happy to make for them.  :D  It's so satisfying to work with other artists! :)

Ooh, I don't think I told you all that we got a fish!  Anna's been wanting fish for quite some time but I didn't have any time or money to invest into an aquarium.  I told her it would have to wait until after Pandora, our ferret, was gone.  She passed a few months ago now and my daughter was having a hard time with it, so I was thinking it would be a really good idea to try to get fish sooner rather than later.  So I started looking at fish books with her and we decided on a betta and a mystery snail.

Then a friend had a betta they were thinking about getting rid of; apparently he killed any tank mates and she didn't like that.  I told her that was funny as we were thinking about getting a betta and a snail.  So we talked about it a bit more and they brought over the whole 5.5 gallon tank a couple days later!  Anna was thrilled!  While I started working on getting everything set back up Anna decided to name him "Soup."  😂  The previous owner told me she'd named him "Strawberry Yogurt" because of his red/white coloring.  So his full name is "Strawberry Yogurt Soup."  Hehe.

I've been working on getting him happy as there were a few things making him upset.  He didn't like the stronger current of the filter so I changed it.  Then he got sick (probably from stress from the move) and there were a lot of nitrates in the water.  I've been doing daily water changes to fix that.  He seems much happier and relaxed than he was when we first got him.  He's settling in nicely.

Note: His fins have healed more since this picture was taken.  I'll post more later. :)